Exiting Homelessness "One Step at a Time"

When it opened its doors in 2023, Pavilion Elle poured in accommodation, In Lanaudière, he responded to a demand expressed over the years.

Since 2017, there has been talk of lack of services for womenElle pours paville coordinator Auberge du coeur Roland-Gauvreau, from Josiane Desaulniers Mainguy.

It is open 24/7 and has monitoring and support for all procedures […] To give women everything they need to go again.

The change couldn't have come at a better time for Claire Blanchard, who has been homeless for months.

In September, in the middle of the housing crisis, we met Claire in a park in Joliet, in an improvised camp among a few tents and fellow victims.

Claire Blanchard was camping in a park in Joliet in September 2023.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Patrick Andre Perron

However, in the days following our report, Claire was given emergency shelter in Joliet and then cared for at the Pavillon Four Elle in Saint-Charles-Borromy.

Within weeks, she found the bearings.

We held meetings with stakeholders. […] Once a day, I did a task, once a week for a big cleaning and for others a meal a weekshe says.

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Reporting by David Gentile

At the time of our visit, Claire had settled into an apartment thanks to financial assistance from Quebec and the support of a worker. CISSS From Lanaudière.

It is always great to see people regaining their independence and enjoying living at home.In human relations agent Maxime Jalbert testifies CISSS From Lanaudière. We must continue to build trust in the people we support so that we can be as successful as we are todayHe adds.

Maxime Jalbert, human relations agent at CISSS de Lanaudiere, supports Claire in her efforts to find an apartment and in her medical appointments.

Photo: Ivanoh Demers

A presence is especially important to Claire, who learned bad news during a recent health checkup.

I will do everything to fight cancersays the woman, now in her fifties. Street workers [et les intervenantes] Importantly, they kept me going and helped me get through it.

The pavilion for her will begin again on solid foundations

Elle pours into Pavallan, and generations and destinies come together.

Jessica Therrien, in her early thirties, is taking advantage of her arrival to get off on the right foot after months of setbacks and adjustments with friends.

Jessica Therrien is staying at the Pavillon Four Elle in Lanadier.

Photo: Radio-Canada

I've been in survival mode for a while now, […] But they show us that here we are more than just people on the street or people facing difficulties in their personal and professional lives.She testifies.

Jessica, a single mother, is studying for a certificate in substance abuse at university. She wants to get financial housing assistance to move back into an apartment.

Since June, we have received 101 requests from women, we have been able to accommodate 21 people and unfortunately, we have left 80 people on the street due to insufficient spaces. HeartbreakingCoordinator Josien Dessaulniers Maingui says.

The challenge is also important to Stéphane Arsenault of the Société de Lacement Populaire de Lanadiere.

Since media coverage of the crisis began [du logement]Our waiting list has grown by 30%.The coordinator of the association mentions.

l'NPO 139 housing units managed and of course thanks Acquisition of partially neglected buildings.

Female homelessness is on the rise

The housing crisis is having a domino effect felt among the homeless across Quebec.

The number of homeless people who can be found on the streets of Quebec will almost double between 2018 and 2022, reaching 10,000, according to the latest homelessness figures released in September 2023.

The number of homeless women is increasing: the proportion of women experiencing homelessness increased from 25% in 2018 to 29% in 2022.